Fight sells out in an hour
ORGANISERS of the super-middleweight world title rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves plan an imminent release of 20,000 extra tickets, after an initial 60,000 seats sold out inside an hour yesterday.
The biggest ever post-war crowd for a British fight will witness the bout on 31 May and seats priced at £30 and £40 will go on sale once Brent Council and Transport For London give promoter Eddie Hearn the green light.
The International Boxing Federation ordered the rematch after ruling referee Howard Foster’s decision to stop Groves during the ninth round of their original bout was “improper”.
Groves said yesterday: “It was stonewall robbery first time, everyone knows it, and that’s why I’ve requested neutral officials. It’s conditional on the fight going ahead.”
The Londoner played with a Rubic’s Cube as Froch responded, promising to leave “no question-marks this time around” with regard to the outcome.
The bad blood later spilled out onto the Wembley pitch, when Froch pushed Groves during a photocall.
The fight is being billed as the biggest in British boxing history with the crowd exceeding the 55,000 who saw Ricky Hatton beat Juan Lazcano in Manchester six years ago.